Stocking Stuffers & Gift Guide for the Gun Nerd — LifeCard, Knives, An M1 Garand & More!

Now that I’m a New Yorker, what I really, desperately want for Christmas this year is a Firearms License to Carry Concealed (not merely to Posses on Premises, which is the state’s way of saying “in your own home.” Yes, you need a license to keep a handgun in your home). Since it’s a county sheriff or judge that bestows this “gift,” not the bearded fat man in the red jumpsuit, I’m sorta outta luck.

From what I’m told, becoming a concealed carrier in New York is a nine- to 12-month gauntlet. I have to provide “reasons” why I require a permit, list four references who can attest to my “good moral character,” register all my handguns and receive a full cavity search — sans lubrication — from a nubby-fingered jackboot. Even after all that, there are no guarantees.

While I wait for the Empire State to decide on whether I’m allowed to exercise my right to keep and arms that is guaranteed by the U.S Constitution, I’ve jotted down some items that the jolly fat man can load up in his sleigh and cram down my chimney (or your chimney) this Christmas.

LifeCard .22LR ‘Credit Card’ Pistol

The LifeCard is advertised as the “Last gun you’ll leave behind.”

The LifeCard .22LR from Trailblazer Firearms really caught my eye when it was announced over the summer. A single-shot, folding pistol “no bigger than a stack of credit cards,” according to the company website, the LifeCard is the perfect all day, every day carry gun.

That’s what I love about it. While your primary carry gun may change week to week, month to month, depending on any number of factors (weather, clothing, travel destination, etc.), the LifeCard is a mainstay as a backup gun or even a backup to your backup because of its size. It weighs only 7 ounces!

The catch on this is that I haven’t handled it or shot it or even seen it in person. The good news, though, is that Clay has one in for review right now. Look for that write-up to be published in the next week or so. Assuming it gets a thumbs up from the War Chief, then I’m going to pull the trigger on one once I get things squared away with my new Empire State overlords.

Price on this perfect stocking stuffer is $400.

Chris Reeve Small Inkosi Insingo & Zero Tolerance 0460

The ZT 0460 on top, the Chris Reeve Inkosi Insingo on the bottom. Forgive all the tape smudge on the ZT 0460.

I have two knife suggestions this year. Both are folders that are perfect for everyday carry. The first is the Chris Reeve Small Inkosi Insingo.  The second is the Zero Tolerance 0460.

The Inkosi is the evolution of the classic Sebenza, the knife that put Chris Reeve on the map nearly 30 years ago. The model I reviewed recently featured a carbon fiber front handle and an Insingo blade (a modified Wharncliffe blade design).

Overbuilt, compact and incredibly light, the Small Inkosi is one of my favorite knives.  Price is around $415.

The Zero Tolerance 0460 is a Persian-influenced knife designed by Russian knifemaker Dimitry Sinkevich.  Like the Inkosi, it has carbon fiber handles and blade steel made from the inimitable S35VN.  Unlike the Inkosi, it’s flipper-operated. A flick of the flipper and the blade flies open!

It too is tough, lightweight and great to carry.  While Zero Tolerance doesn’t have the accolades and reputation that Chris Reeve does just yet, the 0460 is nothing to sneeze at.  Price for this bad mama jama is $180.

You can pick up both the Inkosi and the 0460 at KnifeArt.com.

M1 Garand

Found this for $895 on GunsAmerica.

Do you believe in Christmas miracles?  I do! Along those lines, I’m hoping that president Trump comes through on his promise to roll back Obama regs preventing the CMP from repatriating the tens of thousands of M1 Carbines and Garands that are kicking around East Asia.

Back in April, we had heard rumblings from Mark Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of the Civilian Marksmanship Program, that these rifles would be coming home.

“There are 86,000 or so M1s hopefully coming back to the Army. We hope to see them in the future,” said Johnson.

We confirmed that report with Steve Cooper, CMP North General Manager & Marketing Manager, who told GunsAmerica via email, “We are patiently waiting! Obviously, we would be very happy to receive more rifles!”

I don’t own the “greatest implement of battle ever devised.” And I want one, badly. At this stage in the game I have three options, continue to wait on Trump, purloin one from GunsAmerica owner and founder Paul Helinski (that might get me fired, though, LOL) or buy one on GunsAmerica.

If you hate waiting, that third option isn’t a bad one. I’ve been looking on GunsAmerica and I’ve actually found some pretty good deals. Mind you, they’re not as cheap as they used to be, the value of M1s continues to rise, it seems, but they are out there for reasonable prices. Depending on provenance and condition, I’m seeing some real solid offerings priced between $900 to $2,000.

SnapSafe

The “Titan” from SnapSafe, a modular gun safe that you can put together piece by piece.

The SnapSafe is pure genius. It’s a modular steel safe that one assembles or snaps together piece by piece, no professional movers required!

Paul reviewed the “Titan,” which is the smallest base model, back in 2016.  Ever since then I’ve had my eye on it. He said it took him about an hour to put the safe together. And I don’t even think he read the directions.  He loved the idea of having a safe delivered directly to the front door in an inconspicuous box as opposed to it being dropped off by the safe company’s truck which announces to the world, “Hey, this guy has got guns in here!”

Featuring a 3/16-inch thick door and constructed from 9 gauge steel, the safes are fire rated to 2300 degrees for one hour. What that means is that even if a would-be gun thief went medieval on your SnapSafe with a pair of pliers and a blow torch, your guns would be secure.

The Titan can hold up to 12 long guns and retails for $1249.00, including shipping.  For several hundred dollars more you can get the Super Titan ($1648) and double your capacity to 24 long guns.  Then there’s the Super Titan XL ($2,000) and the Super Titan XXL ($2,499) that store 36 and 56 long guns respectively.

I’m not sure I’d want to bog down Santa’s sleigh with the 900-pound Titan XXL. Then again, those reindeer are pretty stout.  Check out the SnapSafe.

American Eagle ‘Extreme Flex’ Jeans

Extreme Flex Jeans from American Eagle will make carrying inside the waistband significantly more comfortable.

If you don’t have a pair of American Eagle ‘Extreme Flex’ Jeans then you need to get some — now!  They’ve changed my world.

Unlike traditional jeans that need to be broken in for weeks or months, these stretchy jeans are comfy right outta the box.  Made from 86 percent cotton, 12 percent polyester, and 2 percent elastane, you get extra give in all the right places.

There are several styles and colors to choose from, including straight, loose, skinny, slim, boot among others.  I opted for the straight style in black, 36 W x 32 L (I normally wear a 34 waist). Most importantly, I can report that the crotch space is capacious.  There is no pinching or binding on the boys when you sit or kneel.

For those of you who carry inside the waistband, flex jeans are ideal.  The flex in the waist makes carrying your gun and holster infinitely more comfortable.  As I did, you may still want to order ’em a size or two sizes too big so you have extra room for the rig. But that’ll depend on the magnitude of your paunch.  If you’re a bean pole, you may not need to upsize at all because the flex will be enough.

They retail for $50.  But wait for them to go on sale.  AE usually runs a promotion once a week where you can pick them up for $40 or less.  It’ll be the best $40 you spend this holiday season.  Especially if, like me, you have a propensity to over-indulge in turkey, cookies and booze.